14 DAY TRIAL // Because most of us are emerging from the holiday season feeling sluggish, even if we haven’t gained weight, a good idea to kick start our metabolism would be to do one of those famous detox diets, which would give our body a well-deserved break.
Gwyneth Paltrow and her Goop team have just the thing to help us detox our body and rid us of the excess weight we might have gained the past couple of weeks, with all those family dinners, little exercise and probably an increased alcohol intake as well.
This might be “just the thing” our body needs right now, but it won’t be easy. So brace yourself.
Simple but tough rules
In her latest Goop newsletter, the Oscar-winning actress proposes her usual, annual detox. In previous years, she even recommended certain cleanses, but let’s just agree that those aren’t for everyone – plus, nutritionists have repeatedly warned dieters not to fall for them, because they are only quick fixes for quick weight loss, which can actually do more damage than good in the long run.
This detox, the actress says, is “simple but tough,” but necessary to help the body get back on track and have an amazing start for the new year: even if we haven’t been overeating or over-indulging in alcohol, it is still necessary to help the liver eliminate the toxins accumulated from food and the environment.
“Just say no to: alcohol, caffeine, added sugar, gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and nightshades (white, blue, red, and yellow potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant),” Paltrow writes. “If you don’t want to cook, Dr. Junger’s 21-Day Clean Program is a great option, since it’s two shakes per day (breakfast, dinner) with a clean lunch in between that’s easy to source from a salad bar.”
This is basically what the detox is: replacing dinner and breakfast with healthy smoothies, and finding healthy and clean options for lunch. The actress even offers the recipes for some of her favorite foods, including snacks like “clean granola.”
Experts weigh in
Though she’s made a name for herself as a lifestyle guru, Paltrow wants her readers to know that her suggestions for a detox diet aren’t coming from her, but are backed up by experts in the field. Aware that too many people mistake a detox diet with starving themselves (or drinking only cleansing juices), she goes to great lengths to assure them that this is a tested method to stay healthy, lose weight but still get the right nutrients.
For this particular diet, Paltrow consulted with Bruce Lourie, co-author of “Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things” and “Toxin Toxout: Getting Harmful Chemicals Out of Our Bodies and Our World.”
She also looked for places that cater the kind of foods she recommends in Los Angeles, and has even compiled a list of spa centers where you can get the best detox treatments possible. The actress recommends starting the week with a colonic and going to the spa whenever time permits, because excessive sweating helps to remove toxins from the body.